Paper-file



M. B. JOHNSON.

PAPER FILE APPLICATION FILED DEC-5. 1919.

1 42,504. 7 Patented J 11110 8, 1920.

57 Z. v M

INVENTOR Mae/rm 3J0 05d ATTORNEY UNITED sf'rArssl PAT Nr MAURICE BERNAYS JOHNSON, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEYQ f v JEAPER-FILE.

Application filed December 5, 1919. seiialiio. 342,783.;

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAURICE BnRivArs JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,

residing in Newark, inthe county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper- Files, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. V V V v This invention relates to a paper fileof the character usually kept on a desk, table or like convenient place, and has for one of its objects the provision of a file of this type upon which papers may be conveniently inserted or remove Another object of the invention is the provision of a clasping member, which is adapted; to instantaneously free all of the papers on the file. I A. special object of the invention viding a file upon which papers may be quickly and securely placed with the use of one'hand and at the expense of a minimum of energy.

Other objects of the invention have to do with various features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth anddefined by the appended claims.

. In accordance with this invention there is provided a back or baseboard having secured upon one side thereof resilient members which normally effect the engagement of a U-shaped clasping member with the opposite surface'of the baseboard near one edge thereof; 7 The U-shaped clasping mem her is reciprocally mounted so that the portion intermediate the leg portions clears the edge of the baseboard adjacent thereto inthe filing of papers. This is accomplished by giving eachof the leg portions of the clasping member a plurality of contours and confining certain of the curved sections in guide'members adapted to direct the closed end of the U-shaped member upwardly and outwardly. The clasping member may be raised by either exerting pressure on, the baseboard or by means of suitable grips. When the clasp is reciprocate'dihe full length of its stroke-in an upward direction, the base thereof completely clears the normal projecting edge of the baseboard, and, when released, moves toward the adjacent surface of the baseboard until arrested thereby or bypapers {resting thereon. The tension of. the resilient members for functioningthe clasp is sufficient to maintain any papers held thereunder firmly in place.

is proorricEl-q Specification ofLettersPatent. v Patented J uneS, 1920.

The natureiof the means by which {the foregoing and other specificobjects ofthe V invention are" accomplished will appear. from the-following detailed description.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective of the file con- I templated by this invention ;f

'Fig. 2.is a rear elevation thereof showing the clasping member disengaged; and I F 1g, 3 lsa perspective showing the means prised ofa-baseboard :1 having secured on the backthereof a pair of resilient members 2 consisting preferably of'fiat spring metal. 7

Each of the resilient members'2 has one'of for attaching the resilient members for functioning the clasp of the baseboard.

The file shown in the drawings is coma means for maintaining the said members constantly under tension which may be auto matically increased as hereinafter more fully explained. The socketmembers 2 are each provided with extensions 4 having an aperture adaptedto accommodate a screw,

and may be fastened together by a connecting link 5, said link andsocket members being preferably f castironand constitut ing a single casting.

The resilient members 2 are connected at their free ends by across arm .6 held in position by means of screws. 7,, each of which has a seat in the respective bracket members 8. hasa seat for receiving the cross-arm 6,

and their upper ends are provided with depressions adapted to form bearings 9,'i n,

Each. of the bracket, memb ers 8 if conjunction with the upper endsof there silient members 2, whic'hends are arranged:

to fit flush with the edgesof the said-bracket' members. accommodate off-set portions on the open ends of the U-shaped clasping member 10. The several leg portions of the clasping Th bearingsQ are adamed to i member l Oare givena plurality of off-sets,

curvatures and inclinations so as'to produce a configuration substantially as shown, and.

cause the closedend portion 12 0f. the said clasping member to normally engage the opposite or outer surface of the baseboard Y adjacent the upper edge thereof; ,"This engagement is efl'ectedby placing the resilient members 2, under tension, which; may be easily 'aqeom nshe by virtueof the construction of the soclret-lmembers 3. The normal tensionrof the resilient members 2 is automatically increased as the closed-portion 12 of the clasping member 10 ismoved away from the baseboard. This'lattergfea ture is-ofYadvantage 'When a considerable f numberof papers are. filed, th efincreasedtensionon the clasping memberfirmlyholding them in position.

The inclined portions of the clasping member l are adapted to be confined Within guide members 13 integrally formed on the extremities; ofa grippingplatelt secured p near the upperedge of the baseboard l. The

arms of the clasping member 10 when the latter 11's" reciprocated in a forward and.

guide members 13 are adapted to give con siderabl'e latitude-to the movement of'the backward direction. This'is accomplished by' providing the lateral contacting surface ofthe guid member's13 with suitable beveled or inclined'faces so that, When the clasping member 10' ismovedtoward, thebaseboard 1,

the closedportion" 12 of said member Will be directed u wardly and outwardlysuch manner as to entlrely clear the normal pro-z ecting edge? of the baseboard; It is, or V course,to be appreciated that the contour-s1 of the arm portions of the claspingmember 10' arealso an important factor in effecting the resultjust described.

Fromithe foregoing 'descriptionthe opera- 7 tion of the filecontemplated by me is readily understood. The file, if kept upon a desk,

is placedivith the uppersurfac e' of the baseboard exposed." Then itis desired to file a paper all that is required is to place the paper onthis, exposed surface and by exert- I ing a downward pressure, 'whlch may be done with the same hand holding theppaper,

- the clasping meniberlO is moved upwardly and outwardly sons to clear the end of the I p'ap'er intended'to be filed; Having'eleared the same, by'removi th e hand, the resilient imembers 2 restore the c'la'sping'memberlO to normal position, thereby effectlng the filing of' -thc paper by' firmly holding the same it itermediate"the 'cl'osed portion 12 of the clasplngmemberand the adjacent. surface of'fthe baseboardgl s This operation is very simple and easily performed. lnthe event itvis' desired to 'removela'paper from'the file the disengagement of the clasping member V p 7 V V the file, any of which may be taken out of the fil'e and quicklyfreplac'ed when desired.

19 is effected in a;similarmannerpthereby simultaneously; freem all of the papers on As an additional :me'an's ofopening and closing 'the claspingmember. 10, a second grippingplate 15isfprovided Whichis. car.-

I ried bythe resilient members 2. By taking the vplates 14;.and 15 between the, fingers and. squeezing the same, "the clasping member-IO may be opened andclos'ed', Thisarrangement: 'isfiof convenience Where it; is

like, 7

projecting edge of they baseboard? subscribed my Wished to functionthe file when not resting upon an object s'uch as a desk, table or the From the above that one of the salient features of my in description, it is obvious vention resides in the provision of a fi 5 Which can be functioned With one hand and, at the same time, securely hold all papers desired to be filed vvi-thout perforating the same. This is of considerable advantage;

wvhere the personusing the 'fi'le ordinarily has one hand engaged, as, .for*instance,qa V

Waiter ona dining vcar, With afile of this s type, for instance, it is very easy for him to remove the menu With one hand While,

at thesa me time," he has the'other hand en-' gaged. Where the rapid filing, of papers is desired, the same may :be. acomplished with a minimum of time and energy. 1 VV'hile this invention has been set forth in a" certain "preferred embodiment, it Will be understood that modifications may be made Without departing'from'the spirit; andif it scope thereof. 7

hat is claimed isi a reciprocally mounted clasping member se- 7 1. A-paper file comprising a baseboard,-,

cured to one surface of said baseboard and: adapted to engage papers contactingwlth cured to one surface thereof and adapted to V engage papers contacting With the opposite surface of the said baseboard, and means file comprising a baseboard,

for reciprocating the clasping member in sucha manner as to cause it to clear the end] 7 of the baseboard. V V p a 3; A paper file comprising a" baseboard,

and a clasping member reciprocally-mounted thereon, said claspingmember beingadaptedto clear the edge of the fi-ling'surface of' the baseboard during the filing of" papers;

, V 1 paper file'comprising'a baseboard-,

and a'clasping member reciprocally mount-: ed thereon, the said member when moved f the" full length of its stroke in an upward directioncompletely clearing the normally In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ce mber 1919. 1

name this dayzof' Def 

